Interesting take from Rush Limbaugh on the state of the NFL, and by extension other sports.

Personally, I found myself turning of a Celtics game last year when I saw this guy with tatoos down the the neck and both arms and I just said to myself, "I really don't want to root for a guy like that."

That says something about me and that is fine. I don't want to identify with guys like that.

The classiness of the Pats is a refuge from this climate for the most part. There are lots of players I like rooting for on that team.

Personally, I found myself turning of a Celtics game last year when I saw this guy with tatoos down the the neck and both arms and I just said to myself, "I really don't want to root for a guy like that."

That says something about me and that is fine. I don't want to identify with guys like that.

Jags spear Tommy, their coach brags about it in his loser's rant, and the NFL wimps out.

Titans go after the Pats with intent to harm. I'm glad Hochuli was there, it could have gotten really ugly otherwise.

Chargers talked the talk, and found they couldn't walk it, they got their noses rubbed in it by a very proud group of guys. I'm heart broken for their hurt feelings. We saw this from the Pats in 2004 when they mocked TO in the Superbowl after the build-up to the game made so much of his antics.

The Pats obviously believe in paybacks and so does Belichick, but the bill isn't paid until the end of the game.

I agree that gang culture is being glorified in too many places, I hate seeing what look like prison or gang tattoos, though I understand why guys playing such a tough game would be drawn to a symbol of toughness. I'd just prefer "my" Pats would see their rings as that symbol.

The build up for the AFCCG has just about every analyst on NFL Network picking Indy - the Pats are going to be very up for this game, Polian better be prepared with tranquilizers because it is going to be very physical. At least the Colts as a team are not a lot of trash talkers during the week, instead they toss each other under the bus after the game.

Going back to the dances and cultural issues, the NFL Network is as much a part of the problem as ESPN. With the NFL's investment in the network, it will be interesting to see if the League will make any stride in containing the showboat crap. It is interesting to remember, the rules restricting dancing came from player's complaints and not from the League office...it may just be the players policing themselves that saves the day, not the bean counters and boot lickers.

If you really wanted to see some gang behavior check out the NBA in the 1950's.

In the 1958 NBA Finals Red got into a fist fight with St. Louis Coach Ben Kerner. In 1961 Red was served a summons in Syracuse for punching three fans who invaded the Celtics huddle. In the 1983 NBA Finals, a 66-year old Red ran from twelve rows deep in the Boston Garden stands to come within inches of throwing a punch at Houston center Moses Malone after a brawl between the two teams. Red fought for his place in history through his actions as much as his upbringing and it was this toughness that helped secure his place in history and his success as a coach and front office executive.

If you really wanted to see some gang behavior check out the NBA in the 1950's.

In the 1958 NBA Finals Red got into a fist fight with St. Louis Coach Ben Kerner. In 1961 Red was served a summons in Syracuse for punching three fans who invaded the Celtics huddle. In the 1983 NBA Finals, a 66-year old Red ran from twelve rows deep in the Boston Garden stands to come within inches of throwing a punch at Houston center Moses Malone after a brawl between the two teams. Red fought for his place in history through his actions as much as his upbringing and it was this toughness that helped secure his place in history and his success as a coach and front office executive.

The entire NBA, for the most part, is nothing better than glorified schoolyard basketball.

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You got that right. And it shows up now on the international circuit when teams from Argentina, Spain, and Greece have put the school-yard NBAers, with their $100 million contracts, into the toilet. Even (gasp) Lithuania almost beat the U.S. in the 2000 Olympics; one 3-pointer would have done it.

Now, LaDainian Tomlinson to me is the classiest player in the National Football League. He doesn't do a dance, he doesn't spike the ball when he scores. He and Marvin Harrison are the two most classy individuals playing in the National Football League today, in skill positions. They just hand the ball back to the referee. They act like they've been there and done that, like scoring a touchdown is no big deal, they don't taunt, they don’t act like they've been dissed or any of this. Let me tell you, the Chargers would not have lost that game were it not for a bunch of -- I gotta be very careful here. It's not just irresponsible, but there is a cultural problem in the NFL that has resulted in a total lack of class on the part of professional players.

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In context, you have chosen to see this as a prelude to making a racist remark, well, Rush would have to be careful if he was going to say such a thing. He would also have to be careful if he intended to refer to Florence and Olivea with their unnecessary roughness penalties as "assclowns," which they are. I'm retired, I no longer take an interest in gangs and gang trends, but the "disrespect" mindset is not unknown to me and is a part of every gang I looked at, regardless of race or gender.

I guess I don't read racial remarks into things until someone makes it more blatant, that is why I believe your post crossed the line, it was blatant. I don't care to visit the political forum, but I don't see the problem with discussing the "class" issue as it applies to football. Tomlinson made it pertinent to football and the Patriots. Radical leftist or not, Rush made statements on sports culture that directly relate to "my" New England Patriots and are worth discussing. Our dislike of the author doesn't preclude us from discussing Ron Borges' articles, this is no different and I feel this is one of those times where "lighten up Francis" applies.